State reps weigh in on State of the State

Senator Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) and Assembly Woman Shannon Grove offered their responses to Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State address.Fuller offered a positive, yet still critical, statement, pointing out some items in the governor’s address that she did like as a member of the minority party.

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Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

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Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 10:07 PM

Posted Jan. 24, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jan 24, 2013 at 10:07 PM

SACRAMENTO

“Governor Brown was given a reprieve by California voters last Fall and a rare opportunity to work across the aisle to find meaningful and long-term solutions to the state’s most challenging problems,” Fuller said in a statement. “While I am encouraged that the Governor highlighted the critical needs of water infrastructure, education, job creation and CEQA reform, we should be watchful for any real progress and improvements.”

She did, however, find fault in a few of the governor’s vision for the next year.

“And in the other areas of the Governor’s Address, from implementing a new federal health care law to climate change to high-speed rail, it’s important to note that over-spending on these projects will not result in any immediate economic benefit,” she said.

Grove was more skeptical of the governor’s plans and attacked him on spending of tax dollars and accepting of special interest money.

“The Governor just saluted public employee unions and thanked them for the millions of dollars they poured into passing the Prop. 30 tax hike last fall,” Grove said. “Where’s the Governor’s shout-out to the small businesses whose pockets they all just raided again? Californians now pay the highest taxes in the nation because of Prop. 30, and our state’s competitiveness in keeping and attracting job creators is suffering.”

She said the people will be the final voice regardless of what the governor said.

“I trust that the voters won’t continue to fall for the Democrats’ convoluted logic that if California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, the answer lies in taking more money from working people and giving it to the bureaucrats in Sacramento to spend on themselves,” Grove said. “Brown keeps touting his ‘balanced’ budget, but his numbers are based on revenues gained from $50 billion dollars’ worth of higher taxes. He and the supermajority may think that they can tax away pension liabilities and the state’s other IOUs, but California’s challenges will only be resolved when we create a better business climate so people can get back to work.”